Liturgy (3/8)

PRELUDE – “Children of the Living God” by Fernando Ortega

WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP – Isaiah 48:12-14a

Listen to me, O Jacob,

and Israel, whom I called!

I am he; I am the first,

and I am the last.

My hand laid the foundation of the earth,

and my right hand spread out the heavens;

when I call to them,

they stand forth together.

Assemble, all of you, and listen!

Song –

“Defender” by Chad Gardner and Zach Bolen

CONFESSION OF SIN

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – Mark 2:5; Luke 7:48

Your sins are forgiven!

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – The Apostle’s Creed

EVERYONE:

We believe in God the Father Almighty,

Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ

his only Son our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, dead, and buried,

he descended to hell

and on the third day he rose again from the dead,

he ascended into heaven,

and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,

from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of the saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.

Amen.

Songs –

“You Are My King (Amazing Love)” by Billy J. Foote

“Knowing You” by Graham Kendrick

PRAYER

CHILDREN’S BLESSING & DISMISSAL – Psalm 1:3

He is like a tree

planted by streams of water

that yields its fruit in its season,

and its leaf does not wither.

In all that he does, he prospers.

SCRIPTURE READING – 1 John 2:1-14

SERMON – “Children, Fathers, and Young Men”

THE LORD’S TABLE

Songs –

“No Longer Slaves” by Brian Johnson, Joel Case, and Jonathan David Helser

“Be Thou My Vision” by Eleanor Henrietta Hull and Mary Elizabeth Byrne

OFFERING

Song –

“O Church Arise” by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend

BENEDICTION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

POSTLUDE – “Family” by Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5Ml9sSMXhmzfV6CLCrFUby?si=JeyZj4pvR1CQcvVG2A9pKQ

IBC Liturgy 3/1/2020

PRELUDE “Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace)” by Hillsong Worship

 

WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP – (Psalm 107:1-3)

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
whom he has redeemed from trouble
and gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.

 

Song –

“Here is Love” by Matt Redman, Robert Lowry, and William Rees

 

CONFESSION OF SIN –

As a church, part of our covenant states that members are intimately interrelated. Therefore, we covenant together to consider how our words and deeds affect our fellow members and act accordingly. In this time of confession, let’s use this time to reflect on the times we have not taken our commitment to one another seriously and silently repent of the ways we often neglect one another. In the words of Jesus, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)

[Silent Space to Reflect]

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – Hear this Assurance of Pardon from Christ prayer over his disciples in John Heb. 10:21-23

and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,

with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience

and our bodies washed with pure water.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering,

for he who promised is faithful.

Songs –

“How Deep the Father’s Love” by Stuart Townend

“Make Us One”by Twila Paris

PRAYER

CHILDREN’S BLESSING & DISMISSAL – Psalm 1:3

(Kids Corner is available for children through 1^st grade)

SCRIPTURE READING – 1 John 2:7-11

(please stand and respond with “Thanks be to God!”)

SERMON (Nathan) – Light and Love

THE LORD’S TABLE (Nathan)

Songs –

“Mystery” by Charlie Hall

“Christ is Risen” by Matt Maher

OFFERING  – be sure to also include something about dropping in Visitor Info cards found in bulletin flap

Song –

“O Praise the Name (Anástasis)” by Benjamin Hastings, Dean Ussher, and Marty Sampson

BENEDICTION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

POSTLUDE  “Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder” by John Newton

 

IBC Liturgy 2/23/2020

PRELUDE “Doxology” by Beautiful Eulogy

WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP – (Psalm 134)

Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,
who stand by night in the house of the Lord!
Lift up your hands to the holy place
and bless the Lord!

May the Lord bless you from Zion,
he who made heaven and earth!

Song –

“Glory in the Highest” by Chris Tomlin, Daniel Carlson, Ed Cash, Jesse Reeves, and Matt Redman

CONFESSION OF SIN –  1 John 1:5-10

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you,

that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness,

we lie and do not practice the truth.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light,

we have fellowship with one another,

and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins

 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

 

Let’s take a moment to confess our sins, as we enter into worship of the God who is light.

 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – Col. 1:13-14

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness

and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

in whom we have redemption,

the forgiveness of sins.

Songs –

“Kindness” by Chris Tomlin

“You Are My King (Amazing Love)” by Billy J. Foote

PRAYER

CHILDREN’S BLESSING & DISMISSAL – Psalm 1:1-2

(Kids Corner is available for children through 1^st grade)

Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

SCRIPTURE READING – 1 John 2:1-6

(please stand and respond with “Thanks be to God!”)

SERMON – “Get to Know the Advocate”

THE LORD’S TABLE

Songs –

“Before the Throne of God Above” by Charitie Lees Bancroft and Vikki Cook

“Behold the Risen Christ” by The Village Church

OFFERING – be sure to also include something about dropping in Visitor Info cards found in bulletin flap

Song –

“When I Think About the Lord” by James Huey

BENEDICTION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

POSTLUDE  “Great are You Lord” by All Sons and Daughters

IBC Liturgy 2/16/2020

PRELUDE “Everything Glorious” by David Crowder Band

WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP (Danny) – (Psalm 36:7-9)

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
 They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light do we see light.

Song –

“All Praise to Him” by Bob Kauflin and Matt Merker

CONFESSION OF SIN (Danny) – John 3:19-21

 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world,

and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light,

lest his works should be exposed.

But whoever does what is true comes to the light,

so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Since the light of Christ has come into our world, let us no longer walk in darkness. Let’s take some time to repent of our sins and return to true fellowship with the Lord.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Diana) – Hear this Assurance of Pardon from Romans 6:1-4

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?

 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus

were baptized into his death?

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death,

 in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,

we too might walk in newness of life.

 

Baptism – (Nathan) Esther

 

Songs –

“Be Magnified” by Lynn DeShazo

PRAYER (Peter J.) have people seated

CHILDREN’S BLESSING & DISMISSAL (Jeremiah) – Psalm 1:2

(Kids Corner is available for children through 1^st grade)

but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

SCRIPTURE READING (Josh) – 1 John 1:5-10

(please stand and respond with “Thanks be to God!”)

SERMON (Nathan) – “Walking in the Light”

THE LORD’S TABLE (Nathan)

Songs –

“Behold the Lamb (Communion Hymn)” by Keith & Kristyn Getty and Stuart Townend

“The Love of God”by Frederick Martin Lehman and Meir Ben Isaac Nehorai

OFFERING (Danny) – be sure to also include something about dropping in Visitor Info cards found in bulletin flap

Song –

“Marvelous Light” by Charlie Hall

BENEDICTION & ANNOUNCEMENTS (Theo)

POSTLUDE  “In the Light” by D.C. Talk

IBC Liturgy 2/9/2020

PRELUDE – “O God Forgive Us” by for King and Country

WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP (John 17:1-3)

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said,

“Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,

since you have given him authority over all flesh,

to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God,

and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

Song –

“You Are My King (Amazing Love)” by Billy J. Foote

CONFESSION OF SIN – “This Sunday has been set aside by many churches as Racial Reconciliation Sunday, a time to remorsefully reflect on the sins and consequences of racial prejudice even among our Southern Baptist Convention forefathers during the periods of slavery and segregation.  As we take our usual time to confess our sin before God, let’s carefully examine our hearts for sins of racism and any ways that we are prone to ignore the image of God in the oppressed, downtrodden, and those not like us.”

“Let’s read this confession of sin together”

Merciful Lord, we confess that with us there is an abundance of sin,

but in you there is the fullness of righteousness and abundance of mercy.

We are spiritually poor, but you are rich and in Jesus Christ came to be merciful to the poor. Strengthen our faith and trust in you.

We are empty vessels that need to be filled; fill us.

We are weak in faith; strengthen us.

We are cold in love; warm us, and make our hearts fervent for you

that our love may go out to one another and to our neighbors.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – Hear this Assurance of Pardon from Eph. 2:13-15

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off

have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one

and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances,

that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,

Songs –

“Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me”by CityAlight

“My Jesus I Love Thee” by Adoniram Judson Gordon and William Ralph Featherstone

PRAYER

CHILDREN’S BLESSING & DISMISSAL – Psalm 1:2

(Kids Corner is available for children through 1^st grade)

but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

SCRIPTURE READING – 1 John 1:1-4

(please stand and respond with “Thanks be to God!”)

SERMON (Nathan) – “Eternal Life”

THE LORD’S TABLE

Songs –

“Jesus I Come” by George Coles Stebbins and William True Sleeper

“Be Unto Your Name” by Gary Sadler and Lynn DeShazo

OFFERING – be sure to also include something about dropping in Visitor Info cards found in bulletin flap

Song –

“It Is Finished” by Dustin Kensrue

BENEDICTION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

POSTLUDE  “Lift your Eyes” by Leeland

IBC Liturgy 2/2/2020

PRELUDE – “Safe Retreat” by Kings Kaleidoscope

WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP – (1 John 1:5-7)

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you,

 that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

  If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light,

we have fellowship with one another,

and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Song –

“Holy Is the Lord” by Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio

CONFESSION OF SIN – Deut. 30:1-3

“And when all these things come upon you,

the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you,

and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you,

and return to the Lord your God,

you and your children,

and obey his voice in all that I command you today,

with all your heart and with all your soul,

 then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you,

and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON– 1 John 2:2

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.

 But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

He is the propitiation for our sins,

and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Songs –

“Not in Me” by David L. Ward and Eric Shumacher

“In Christ Alone” by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend

PRAYER

CHILDREN’S BLESSING & DISMISSAL– Psalm 1:2

(Kids Corner is available for children through 1^st grade)

but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Read Together) Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic* church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING – Nahum 3:8-19

(please stand and respond with “Thanks be to God!”)

SERMON – “Are You Any Better”

THE LORD’S TABLE

Songs –

“Rock of Ages” by Augustus Toplady

“Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me” by CityAlight

OFFERING

Song –

“Rejoice” by Dustin Kensrue

BENEDICTION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

POSTLUDE –“White Owls” by Josh Garrels

 

 

IBC Liturgy 1/26/2020

PRELUDE – “Safe Retreat” by Kings Kaleidoscope

WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP – (Nicene Creed)

For our sake [Christ] was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

Song –

“Behold, Our God” by Jonathan, Meghan, and Ryan Baird and Mark Altrogge

CONFESSION OF SIN  – Isa. 6:1-5

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up;

and the train of his robe filled the temple.

Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face,

and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.

 And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”

And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called,

and the house was filled with smoke.

And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips,

and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;

for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

In light of the vision of God’s holy splendor it is only right for us reflect upon our sin and repent

[silent space to engage with God…]

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – Hear this assurance of pardon from Isaiah 6:6-7

Then one of the seraphim flew to me,

having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar.

And he touched my mouth and said:

“Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

Songs –

“To The Cross I Cling” by Isaac Wimberley, Matt Boswell, and Michael Bleecker

“Revelation Song” by Jennie Lee Riddle

 

PRAYER Please be seated

CHILDREN’S BLESSING & DISMISSAL – Psalm 1:1

(Kids Corner is available for children through 1^st grade)

Blessed is the man

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of scoffers…

SCRIPTURE READING – Nahum 2:1-3:7

(please stand and respond with “Thanks be to God!”)

SERMON – “God against you”

THE LORD’S TABLE

Songs –

“Come Ye Sinners Poor and Needy” by Fernando Ortega, John Andrew Schreiner, and Joseph Hart

“Worthy is the Lamb” by Darlene Zschech

 

OFFERING

Song –

“Lion and the Lamb”by Leeland

BENEDICTION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

POSTLUDE –“White Owls” by Josh Garrels

IBC Liturgy 1/19/2020

PRELUDE – “At the Cross” by Chris Tomlin

WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP – Daniel 7:9-10

“As I looked, thrones were placed,

and the Ancient of Days took his seat;

his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool;

his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.

A stream of fire issued and came out from before him;

a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him;

the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.

 

Song –

 “No One Higher” by Heath Balltzglier, Seth Condrey, and Steve Fee

 

CONFESSION OF SIN – Matt. 2:16-18

Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:

“A voice was heard in Ramah,

weeping and loud lamentation,

Rachel weeping for her children;

she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

 Jan. 22. 1973, the Supreme Court legalized abortion on demand in all 50 states. Since then churches across the states have set aside the third Sunday of the month as a day to commemorate the unborn lives lost due to this edict, and celebrate the Lord’s good gift of human life with the intent to preserve and protect all humanity through all stages of life.

In light of this, let us take some time to pray to our God, repenting for the sins of this nation and our implicit selfishness which turns our eyes away from those who need us most.

[silent space to engage with God…]

ASSURANCE OF PARDON  –

Here the prophetic words of comfort from Jeremiah 31:16-20

Thus says the Lord:

“Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears,

for there is a reward for your work, declares the Lord,

and they shall come back from the land of the enemy.

There is hope for your future, declares the Lord,

and your children shall come back to their own country.

I have heard Ephraim grieving,

‘You have disciplined me, and I was disciplined, like an untrained calf;

bring me back that I may be restored, for you are the Lord my God.

For after I had turned away, I relented, and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh;

I was ashamed, and I was confounded, because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’

Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he my darling child?

For as often as I speak against him, I do remember him still.

Therefore my heart yearns for him;

I will surely have mercy on him,

declares the Lord.

Songs –

“Have Mercy on Me” by Dale Bischof and Pat Sczebel

Give us Clean Hands” by Charlie Hall

Confessional Reading —New Hampshire Confession

Read with me the last paragraph of our New Hampshire Confession of Faith

(Read Together)

XVIII. Of the World to Come.

[We believe] That the end of this world is approaching:

that at the last day, Christ will descend from heaven,

and raise the dead from the grave to final retribution;

 that a solemn separation will then take place;

that the wicked will be adjudged to endless punishment,

and the righteous to endless joy;

and that the judgement will fix forever the final state of men in heaven and hell,

on principles of righteousness.

 

PRAYER Please be seated

CHILDREN’S BLESSING & DISMISSAL  – Psalm 1:1

(Kids Corner is available for children through 1^st grade)

Blessed is the man

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of scoffers…

 

SCRIPTURE READING – Nahum 1:1-15

(please stand and respond with “Thanks be to God!”)

SERMON – “The Good News of God’s Judgment”

THE LORD’S TABLE

Songs –

“Nothing But the Blood” by Robert Lowry

“Man of Sorrows” by Brooke Ligertwood, Matt Crocker

 

OFFERING

Song –

“Take My Life and Let It Be” by Frances Ridley Havergal and Henri Abraham Cesar Malan

BENEDICTION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

POSTLUDE – “Way Maker” by Leeland

Sunday School #1

IBC Sunday School – 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith

Introduction

 

1. Purpose of this study
   1. Three perspectives to approaching Scripture:
      1. Redemptive-historical / Christocentric: what has God done in history? How do God’s acts in history point towards and culminate in God’s ultimate revelation to us in the person of Christ?
      2. Ethical / exemplary: what should I do?
      3. Theological: what should I believe?
   2. Our study of the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith (“1689 Confession,” also known as the “Second London Baptist Confession”) will be primarily theological.
      1. We will go through the 1689 Confession and explore its teaching chapter-by-chapter, paragraph-by-paragraph.
      2. The Confession summarizes the Biblical teaching on a wide range of topics, one topic at a time, allowing topics to mutually inform each other. Thus, by walking through the Confession in this way we will be engaging in systematic theology: making sense of all the Biblical data on individual topics.
         1. Sometimes the confession will be explicit about connections between doctrines. Other times, connections between doctrines are implicit. As much as we can, we will try to spell out these connections in our study.
      3. The theological perspective will have ethical and Christocentric implications. Right doctrine should lead to right living (Romans 12:1-2). As well, a systematic understanding of Biblical covenants will help us see the Christocentric nature of redemptive history.
2. What is a confession of faith?
   1. Creed: short, concise statement of the essential truths of the Christian faith
      1. “Credo” means “I believe” in Latin.
      2. E.g. Nicene Creed (381), Chalcedonian Creed (451)
   2. Confession: longer, more extensive statement of Christian doctrine
      1. E.g. 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, New Hampshire Confession of Faith (1833)
   3. Creeds/confessions serve two purposes: define truth, isolate falsehood.
      1. Different groups throughout church history have issued creeds/confessions to define what they believe, in contrast to error.
   4. Biblical warrant for confessions
      1. The church is a “pillar and buttress of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). It is an institution designed by God to preserve the truth, defend it against error, and pass it on to future generations.
      2. One way that the church has been able to carry out its duty is by publishing confessions of faith. This is in keeping with Paul’s instruction to Timothy to “follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.” (2 Timothy 1:13-14).
      3. Examples of creeds in Bible
         1. Deuteronomy 6:4 – “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”
         2. 1 Timothy 3:16 – “Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.”
3. Practical uses and benefits of confessions
   1. Systematic and condensed theological reference
   2. Tool for discipleship
   3. Public standard to promote church unity and fellowship
   4. Public standard for church discipline
   5. Standard for evaluating elders
   6. Historical connection to Christians who have come before
4. Historical background of the 1689 Confession
   1. The development of the 1689 Confession took place in the context of 17th century England. The Confession had three main influences.
   2. First London Baptist Confession of Faith (first ed. 1644, second ed. 1646)
      1. Published by seven Particular Baptist churches.
      2. The primary purpose of this confession was for the English Baptists to disavow any ties with the Anabaptists of Continental Europe and instead show that they shared the same basic theological perspectives as the Puritan churches around them.
      3. The Confession taught the doctrines of grace, believer’s baptism and congregationalism (among others), and repudiated the Anabaptist view of free will and of civil government.
   3. Westminster Confession of Faith (1646)
      1. Published by the Westminster Assembly, a council of theologians called by Parliament to restructure the Church of England. The council was mostly comprised of Puritans of the Presbyterian persuasion.
      2. The Confession taught a Presbyterian view of church government, a Presbyterian state-church, and infant baptism, among others.
   4. Savoy Declaration (1658)
      1. Published by six Puritans of the Congregational persuasion (including John Owen).
      2. The Confession was a modest revision of the Westminster Confession. The revision rejected the Presbyterian form of church government and instead insisted on the independence of each local congregation. It also rejected the idea of a state-church and approached the idea of religious freedom.
   5. Second London Baptist Confession (published 1677, adopted 1689)
      1. Published in 1677 by elders William Collins and Nehemiah Coxe of the Petty France Church in London. Adopted by 100 Particular Baptist churches in 1689.
      2. The Confession combined extracts from the First London Baptist Confession, Westminster Confession, and Savoy Declaration. Of the 160 paragraphs in the Confession, 146 are derived from the Savoy Declaration (which often reflects Westminster), 8 are derived from the First London Confession, and 6 originated from elder Collins.
      3. The Confession adopted the Congregational view of church government and religious freedom. It rejected infant baptism in favor of believer’s baptism (with an Appendix explaining its reasoning), and also adopted a distinctive view of covenant theology.
5. Significance of the 1689 Confession
   1. It stands in line with Christian orthodoxy
      1. In particular, it teaches the classical doctrine of God and Christology.
   2. It stands in line with the Reformation tradition
      1. It is in substantial agreement with the Westminster Confession and the Savoy Declaration, and upholds the doctrines of grace, the Reformed doctrine of Scripture, justification by faith alone, etc.
   3. It articulates Baptist distinctives
      1. In particular, believer’s baptism, covenant theology, and congregational church government
   4. It exerted a wide-ranging influence on (American) Baptist life
      1. The 1689 Confession “quickly became the standard of Calvinistic Baptist orthodoxy in England, North America, and today, in many parts of the world.”
6. Overview/outline of the 1689
   1. Part 1: First Principles (chapters 1-6)
      1. Chapter 1: Of the Holy Scriptures
      2. Chapter 2: Of God and the Holy Trinity
      3. God’s Decree
         1. Chapter 3: Of God’s Decree
         2. Chapter 4: Of Creation
         3. Chapter 5: Of Divine Providence
      4. Chapter 6: Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the punishment thereof
   2. Part 2: God’s Covenant (chapters 7-20)
      1. Chapter 7: Of God’s Covenant
      2. Chapter 8: Of Christ the Mediator
      3. Setting of the Covenant
         1. Chapter 9: Of Free Will
      4. Blessings of the Covenant
         1. Chapter 10: Of Effectual Calling
         2. Chapter 11: Of Justification
         3. Chapter 12: Of Adoption
         4. Chapter 13: Of Sanctification
      5. Graces of the Covenant
         1. Chapter 14: Of Saving Faith
         2. Chapter 15: Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation
         3. Chapter 16: Of Good Works
         4. Chapter 17: Of the Perseverance of the Saints
         5. Chapter 18: Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation
      6. Means of the Covenant
         1. Chapter 19: Of the Law of God
         2. Chapter 20: Of the Gospel and the Extent of Grace thereof
   3. Part 3: Christian Liberty (or, God-centered Living – Freedom and Boundaries) (chapters 21-30)
      1. Chapter 21: Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience
      2. Religious Worship
         1. Chapter 22: Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day
         2. Chapter 23: Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
      3. Chapter 24: Of the Civil Magistrate
      4. Chapter 25: Of Marriage
      5. On the Church
         1. Chapter 26: Of the Church
         2. Chapter 27: Of the Communion of Saints
         3. Chapter 28: Of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
         4. Chapter 29: Of Baptism
         5. Chapter 30: Of the Lord’s Supper
   4. Part 4: Last Things (chapters 31-32)
      1. Chapter 31: Of the State of Man after Death, and of the Resurrection of the Dead
      2. Chapter 32: Of the Last Judgment
7. Concluding remarks and resources
   1. We commend the 1689 Confession to you as an accurate summary of Scriptural truths. But the Confession is a fallible human document and may be wrong. Ultimately, the teachings of the 1689 Confession should be tested against Scripture itself, which is our only infallible standard for all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience – the Confession even says as much.
      1. If you find yourself in disagreement with a teaching in the Confession, I would urge you to humbly examine the Confession’s teaching and any alternative teachings by the standard of Scripture. Do not dismiss the Confession’s teaching lightly – as the most influential Baptist confession ever written, it has the weight of history behind it.
   2. Resources
      1. Online
         1. Association of Reformed Baptist Churches of America (ARBCA), https://www.arbca.com/1689-confession
         2. Founder’s Press, “The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith in Modern English,” https://founders.org/library/1689-confession/
      2. Apps
         1. iOS: “Christian Creeds & Confessions,” https://apps.apple.com/us/app/christian-creeds-confessions/id359513722
         2. Android: “Creeds and Confessions,” https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.conglomo.confessions
      3. Books
         1. Samuel E. Waldron, A Modern Exposition of the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, (Welwyn Garden City: EP Books, 2016), 5th edition.

Liturgy (1/12)

PRELUDE – “Great Are You Lord” by All Sons & Daughters

WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP – Exodus 15:11, 21

Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?

Who is like you, majestic in holiness,

awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously.

Song –

“Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” by John Wyeth and Robert Robinson

CONFESSION OF SIN – Psalm 130:1-3

EVERYONE:

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!

O Lord, hear my voice!

Let your ears be attentive

to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,

O Lord, who could stand?

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – Psalm 130:4-8

EVERYONE:

But with you there is forgiveness,

that you may be feared.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,

and in his word I hope;

my soul waits for the Lord

more than watchmen for the morning,

more than watchmen for the morning.

LEADER:

O Israel, hope in the Lord!

For with the Lord there is steadfast love,

and with him is plentiful redemption.

And he will redeem Israel

from all his iniquities.

Songs –

“You Alone Can Rescue” by Matt Redman

“He Will Hold Me Fast” by Ada Ruth Habershon and Matthew Merker

PRAYER

CHILDREN’S BLESSING & DISMISSAL – Psalm 1:1

SCRIPTURE READING – Micah 7:1-20

SERMON – “Who Is Like the Lord?”

THE LORD’S TABLE

Songs –

“It Is Well with My Soul” by Horatio Gates Spafford and Philip Paul Bliss

“Forever” by Brian Johnson, Christ Black Gifford, Gabriel Wilson, Jenn Johnson, Joel Taylor, and Kari Jobe

OFFERING

Song –

“No One Higher” by Heath Balltzglier, Seth Condrey, and Steve Fee

BENEDICTION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

POSTLUDE – “Steadfast” by Sandra McCracken

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7gpEsoyO1X6pmjANOJB7PA?si=phK_SdfTRhqo1iN7-4CbzA